Saaremaa residents oppose Elering’s planned Latvia power line

Many residents of Saaremaa, an Estonian island, and the Saaremaa municipal government oppose Elering’s planned 330-kilovolt overhead line to Latvia, ERR reported. They prefer an underground cable or a submarine cable running directly to Latvia.

The route marked in blue on Elering’s map of Saaremaa has caused confusion among residents for several years. Several possible routes were initially considered, but the line has now been selected as the route for Estonia’s fourth electricity connection with Latvia.

“It crosses my property and will be 300 to 400 metres from my home. It is definitely disturbing. I collected signatures on behalf of the village, but they have not been taken particularly seriously,” said Eve, a resident of Tõnija village.

Residents have submitted 500 proposed changes to the route over the years, while the planning process has already cost 1.5 million euros.

At a public discussion in Kuressaare, many continued to question why such a large overhead line should pass through Saaremaa’s natural environment. Elering is seeking a less expensive way to build the connection needed by the state, while island residents are concerned about their homes and the island.

“An underground cable or a submarine cable, which could be built, is not being discussed. That issue has been set aside. I do not understand why there is no willingness to consider a submarine cable, except that it is said to be more expensive,” said Mikk, a resident of Laimjala.

Priit Heinla, Elering’s head of external connections development, said an overhead line would be the most economically efficient option.

“The planning was initiated for this reason. Elering has not taken any offshore wind farm into account as part of the fourth Estonia-Latvia connection,” Heinla said.

According to Heinla, a route directly across the sea, with one or two supporting substations built on Saaremaa, would be more expensive.

The Saaremaa municipal government has previously said that only an underground cable or a submarine cable from a substation on the island’s southern coast to Latvia could be permitted. The municipality will submit its position to the planning process again this month.

“The alternatives are not being considered. This is bulldozer politics, and it is upsetting people,” Mikk said.